Who should close going forward?

[TylerD]

I know you guys don't want to hear this, but Barnes is going to close again, this year- mostly likely sooner than later.

 

He can close again for sure

 

After we locked up a playoff spot and the games don’t matter. Absolutely!

[SPLENDIDSPLINTER]

Say what you will about Kevin Cash , but he takes whatever the front office gives him and gets the best out of it. You could make a strong case that he is the best manager in the game at this time.

 

No question about that. And he's been the best for a number of years.

Edited August 29, 2021 by SPLENDIDSPLINTER

[notin]

No question about that. And he's been the best for a number of years.

 

Gabe Kapler deserves a nod this season, too…

[Maxbialystock]

I want a guy who can consistently throw strikes yet has the stuff to challenge a hitter. Barnes fit that role for a good part of the season. I see no one else on the roster, other than Whitlock who fits that description. Getting Barnes back in form would be best. If that doesn't happen we may have a closure by committee. A different guy each night.

 

Put this way, I pretty much agree although it will never be a save situation a night. If it's 1 in 3 games, then probably 2 or 3 guys will be closers.

 

What I dislike about this thread is the asinine assumption that only closers count when in fact every closer relies heavily on the other relievers to hold the line to make a save possible.

 

Today's game is a case in point. Eovaldi went 5.1 innings and left a tie game. Taylor, Sawamura, Davis, Richards, and Whitlock held Cleveland scoreless for the next 3.2 innings. Then came JDM's 3 run dinger, followed by Perez for the save except he walked one batter, hit the next, and got one out before being relieved by Ottavino who faced bases loaded and one out but still got the save. It is unarguable that in this game any run scored against any of those 4 early relievers would have cost the Sox a win.

Edited August 29, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[Maxbialystock]

I hope we don't have to rotate, because that would mean nobody is doing the job.

 

While I totally agree, too many walks should disqualify a pitcher from being a closer, Kimbrel's was 3.7 when with the Sox, 3.6 in his career and 3.9 since 2016.

 

I hate when Ottavino walks a guy, and what's worse is, it's almost always the first batter or even the first 2, but the guy gets guys out better than just about anyone other than Barnes and Whitlock, who will not be given the closer role, it seems.

 

OBP Against (100+ PAs)

.276 Barnes

.280 Whitlock

.328 Sawamura

.345 Ottavino

.346 Taylor

.360 Perez

.362 Richards

 

You also don't want 2Bs and HRs, so SLG% against is important, too, and here is where Ottavino blows everyone away:

 

.290 Ottavino

.323 Whitlock

.333 Taylor

.347 Barnes

.435 Sawamura

.479 Richards

.488 Perez

 

They guys in the top of both categories are Whitlock, Barnes, Ottavino and Taylor.

 

OPS Against

.603 Whitlock

.615 Barnes

.630 Ottavino

 

.679 Taylor

 

.763 Sawamura

.841 Richards

.848 Perez

 

This just really sucks about Ottavino (BB/9)

 

5.3 Ottavino, Swamura

4.6 Taylor

3.1 Barnes

2.2 Whitlock

1.8 Houck

 

 

Your numbers are flawed.

 

Richards in relief appearances has been way better than Richards the starter. In 6 appearances and 10.1 innings he's given up 1 run, 7 hits, and 3 walks. 10 days ago against the red hot Yankees he pitched 4 innings and gave up a walk and 0 runs and had 5 K's. Last night he was flawless pitching the 8th when the Sox had that 1 run lead. Today he got the last out in the 8th in a tie game. Indeed, since he only threw 4 pitches in the 8th, I would have been tempted to send him out for the 9th.

Edited August 29, 2021 by Maxbialystock

[moonslav59]

Your numbers are flawed.

 

Richards in relief appearances has been way better than Richards the starter. In 6 appearances and 10.1 innings he's given up 1 run, 7 hits, and 3 walks. 10 days ago against the red hot Yankees he pitched 4 innings and gave up a walk and 0 runs and had 5 K's. Last night he was flawless pitching the 8th when the Sox had that 1 run lead. Today he got the last out in the 8th in a tie game. Indeed, since he only threw 4 pitches in the 8th, I would have been tempted to send him out for the 9th.

 

All numbers are flawed.

 

Yes, Richards has done much better as a RP'er, but maybe it's just that he's done better over the last few weeks, and not because of the role change. I admit, that is unlikely, but other pitchers have much better numbers that last 3 weeks, too.

 

I like what I have seen in Richards, of late, but I'm not ready to trust him for multiple high leverage situations, just yet. The problem is, I don't trust anyone else, either, so we are choosing the lesser of evils, here.

[Swiharts Ghost]

Whitlock should be the closer .

[moonslav59]

Whitlock should be the closer .

 

Without him setting up, we'll have no closing situations.

[mvp 78]

Without him setting up, we'll have no closing situations.

 

Yup. Also, Whitlock can go multiple innings so you should use him more as a fireman than a closer.

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Yup. Also, Whitlock can go multiple innings so you should use him more as a fireman than a closer.

 

Goose Gossage just said you can pitch a tent on his lawn.

[Bellhorn04]

All such questions becoming sadly academic.

[Hugh2]

Whitlock should be the closer .

 

No he should not, he's fine in the role he's in now and it sets him up beautifully to slide into the rotation next year.

[mvp 78]

All such questions becoming sadly academic.

 

Yup. The answer is clearly Richards.

[notin]

Yup. The answer is clearly Richards.

 

Phillips Valdez!!

[mvp 78]

Phillips Valdez!!

 

I'm fine with it. At least they would play him now.

[Bellhorn04]

Phillips Valdez!!

 

Richards for closer, Valdez for setup. Done.

[dgalehouse]

Back in 2019 , as the blown saves accumulated , we finally picked up noted ham and egger , Andrew Cashner . He bombed as a starter and Cora used him to close a game. He actually got the save . Folks here were saying , "I think we found our closer." Well , that didn't last long. He flopped . But maybe he is still available . Maybe Bloom should give him a call.

[Bellhorn04]

Back in 2019 , as the blown saves accumulated , we finally picked up noted ham and egger , Andrew Cashner . He bombed as a starter and Cora used him to close a game. He actually got the save . Folks here were saying , "I think we found our closer." Well , that didn't last long. He flopped . But maybe he is still available . Maybe Bloom should give him a call.

 

Well, at least we didn't trade for Kimbrel.

[mvp 78]

Well, at least we didn't trade for Kimbrel.

 

His numbers would be better if he didn't have to face the fearsome crosstown Cubbies.

[TylerD]

It’s Ottavino. Plain and simple. If he starts sucking , we will talk then

 

Until then…. IT’S OTTAVINO. End of discussion. This isn’t even debatable.

[moonslav59]

It’s Ottavino. Plain and simple. If he starts sucking , we will talk then

 

Until then…. IT’S OTTAVINO. End of discussion. This isn’t even debatable.

 

Damn straight!

[a700hitter]

Dave Robertson....oh wait, Tampa signed him as a free agent on the cheap.

[oldtimer]

Our best hope now, when we are in a close game after 6 is to use Whitlock to keep it close and Ottavino is the only asset still available to close. In a pinch, Richards could be tried. The problem is that they represent a few bullets a week. We need more but don't have then right now.

[notin]

Dave Robertson....oh wait, Tampa signed him as a free agent on the cheap.

 

Can we wait until Robertson throws two innings before we call him a success?

 

Granted he’s already outlasted Hamels, who some thought the Sox also should have signed and whose been an effective MLB pitcher more recently than Robertson…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Our best hope now, when we are in a close game after 6 is to use Whitlock to keep it close and Ottavino is the only asset still available to close. In a pinch, Richards could be tried. The problem is that they represent a few bullets a week. We need more but don't have then right now.

 

Whitlock, as young as he is -- or should I say, because his youth (and post-op recovery) dictates his use -- is more like one of those old blackpowder muzzleloaders with a ramrod that takes such a long time to reload.

[Bellhorn04]

Whitlock, as young as he is -- or should I say, because his youth (and post-op recovery) dictates his use -- is more like one of those old blackpowder muzzleloaders with a ramrod that takes such a long time to reload.

 

Whitlock, Stock and Barrel

[Hugh2]

Fun fact, Kyle Schwarber has played in 14 more games than Dave Robertson since the trade deadline.

[notin]

Back in 2019 , as the blown saves accumulated , we finally picked up noted ham and egger , Andrew Cashner . He bombed as a starter and Cora used him to close a game. He actually got the save . Folks here were saying , "I think we found our closer." Well , that didn't last long. He flopped . But maybe he is still available . Maybe Bloom should give him a call.

 

Cashner had 1 save, 4 holds and no blown saves and a .667 OPSA as a reliever for the Sox in 2019. He was a decent reliever for the Sox...

[notin]

Fun fact, Kyle Schwarber has played in 14 more games than Dave Robertson since the trade deadline.

 

More Kyle Schwarber fun

 

Since the deadline:

 

Schwarber: 18H, 3 HR, 15 BB, 15 K, 1.052 OPS in 69 PA

 

Joey Gallo: 15 H, 5 HR, 25 BB, 51 K, .634 OPS in 133 PA ..

[mvp 78]

More Kyle Schwarber fun

 

Since the deadline:

 

Schwarber: 18H, 3 HR, 15 BB, 15 K, 1.052 OPS in 69 PA

 

Joey Gallo: 15 H, 5 HR, 25 BB, 51 K, .634 OPS in 133 PA ..

 

51 K's. JFC. I didn't really want Gallo anyway. I hope he brings this to next year's Yankees team as well.